subs. (old).—1. A place of concealment or banishment; latterly and specifically, a prison: e.g., as in phr. GO TO JERICHO = Go to the devil. [Generically, a place of retirement, cf. 2 Sam. x: 4 and 5.]
1635. HEYWOOD, The Hierarchie of the Blessed Angells, Lib. iv. 208.
| Bid such yong boyes to stay in JERICHO | |
| Untill their Beards were growne, their wits more staid. |
1648. Mercurius Aulicus, 23–30 March (quoted in Athenæum, Nov. 14. 1874, p. 645).
| Let them all GOE TO JERICHO, | |
| And ne’re be seen againe. |
1758. A. MURPHY, The Upholsterer, ii. He may GO TO JERICHO for what I cares.
1775. BURNEY, Diary (1876), Vol. i. p. 167. I should wish all my new friends AT JERICHO.
1857. THACKERAY, The Virginians, xvi. ‘She may go to Tunbridge, or she may go to Bath, or she may GO TO JERICHO for me.’
2. (common).—A watercloset. For synonyms, see MRS. JONES.
3. (Oxford University).—A low quarter of Oxford.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY (‘Cuthbert Bede’), The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman, p. II. ch. iii. It was darkly whispered that the purlieus of JERICHO would send forth champions to the fight.
FROM JERICHO TO JUNE, phr. (common).—A long distance.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Grey Dolphin.’ His kick was tremendous … he … would ‘send a man from JERICHO TO JUNE.’
